Display package



Aug- 1, 1961 T. C. MILLS 2,994,427

DISPLAY PACKAGE Filed July 7, 1960 United States This invention relates to a display package and, more particularly, to ya display package for a dust mop wherein the package has unique locking tab surfaces for the mop handle so that the mop body is retained in a vertical position. In this position, the rnop body presents its most attractive appearance, especially when combined with several similarly disposed mops or other household cleaning implements in a display rack.

It has become quite customary to package articles that are to be sold at retail in transparent plastic sheet material. This permits the potential buyer to view the complete item but, at the same time, prevents undue handling so that the item will not become soiled. Ob- Viously, soiling lowers the Value of the article, to the detriment of the shopkeepers proiit.

It has been recently found that dust mops lend themselves to such packaging in transparent plastic sheet rnaterial. The head is generally encased in la plastic bubble or blister usually produced by a vacuum forming or blow mold technique. The bubble or blister is placed over the mop head with the handle protruding through a centrally disposed orifice. A flat sheet of the same plastic material is then heat sealed to the lips of the bubble or blister -to produce `a. sealed package. A radial groove in the bubble or blister enables folding of the mop handle against the top surface of the mop.

When a pleasing color is dyed into the yarn, a very attractive display package results. And when a series of mops so packaged and so dyed are mounted in the display rack a very tempting appearance to the consumer is effected.

It has been found that the over-al1 appearance of the display is most elective when the mop heads are arranged head-up, ie. the mop head in a vertical position. The customary swivel connection between the mop-head and the handle however, permits disarrangement of any mop so positioned, which detracts from the original tempting appearance described above.

The package of this invention overcomes this undesirable disarranged appearance by providing locking tabs between the mop handle and the mop head package so that the head will customarily remain in a vertical position. The package consists of the customary plastic bubble or blister or, in fact, any other preformed top cover with a radially disposed groove. The radially disposed groove contains two inwardly extending tab surfaces at its upper outer edges which engage the handle and lock the packaged mop `head in a vertical position or coplanar with respect to the vertically disposed handle. This provides a maximum facial treatment of the `attractively dyed yarn mop head.

The package of this invention is more aptly described by the reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top View of the assembled package with a mop head therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the package of FIG. l taken along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an end View of the package shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. l, showing the locking tab surfaces in greater detail.

`Referring particularly to the drawings, the display package of this invention comprises a plastic bubble or atent ice blister 1, to which a liat bottom sheet 2 has been affixed. This is preferably accomplished by heat sealing the lips of the bubble or blister to the edges of lthe bottom -sheet such las shown in rim 3. Obviously other securing means can be employed such as adhesives, solvent sealing and the like.

The bubble cover 1 may contain corrugations 4 which provide ornamentation as Well -as horizontal and vertical support to the cover.

Within the center portion of the cover is contained an orifice 7 through which the swivel socket 8 of the dust mop protrudes. Leading from the oriiice 7 to the rim of Ithe blister package is a handle channel 9.

When the mop handle is engaged by the swivel socket and is folded against the bubble package, the handle is contained within the handle channel 9. A planar arrangement is thereby imparted to the entire dust mop article.

At the outer upper edges of the handle channel are a set of locking tab surfaces 12 which are formed integrally with the bubble or blister-type cover of the blister package. These locking tabs, in cooperation with the handle channel 9, encircle the handle of the mop and lock it in a planar position with the dust mop head and body. Thus, by a relatively simple technique, the most advantageous appearance for the display mop is effected.

- To assemble the package of this invention, a separate bubble or blister cover with a centrally located oriiice is made, preferably by a vacuum forming technique. It is preferably made of transparent vinyl sheeting although other transparent or translucent plastic material can also be used. Transparent material is preferred because it permits inspection by the potential buyer of the mop enclosed therein. Further, the customary vivid color of the mop strands provides an attractive and eye appealing appearance that will be seen through the transparent packaging.

After the blister has been formed, it is placed over the mop body such as illustrated in FIG. 1. With the cover thus placed over the mop body, the swivel connector will protrude through the center oriiice 7 in the cover. Its direction is aligned with the direction of channel 9 therein so that it can be pivoted until coplanar with the bubble package.

The bottom cover 2, preferably of the same transparent plastic material, is then heat sealed to the lips of the bubble as shown at 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The handle is pivoted until coplanar to the package and locked by tab surfaces 12.. The package is then completed `and ready for display with other articles.

If the package is mounted in a display rack, its similar appearance with other mops in the same rack presents a very orderly and pleasing array. The head-up, face exposed posture provides the maximum display advantage.

It should be understood that other revisions and modifications not enumerated may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concept of this invention.

I claim:

1. A display package for a mop comprising a blistertype top cover having a centrally disposed orifice therein, a radially extending channel from said oriiice to the edge of said top cover, said channel having inwardly extending lip edges which provide locking tabs against the handle of the mop to retain it within said channel, and a bottom affixed to the edges of the blister top cover to complete the package.

2. A display package for a mop comprising a blistertype top cover with a centrally disposed oriliice therein, a radially extending channel from said oriice to the edge of said top cover, inwardly extending integral lips formed as a part of said channel on the upper outer portion of said channel to act as locking tabs against the dust mop handle to retain it in said channel and coplanar with the packaged mop, and a dat bottom sealed to the edges of the lblister top cover to form a sealed package for said mop.

3. A pre-packaged dust mop comprising a dust mop head and body, Ia swivel connector, and a handle aiixed to said swivel connector, a b1ister-type top cover with a centrally disposed or-iiice over the upper face of said mop head and body with the handle and swivel connector 4 protruding through said orifice, a radially extending channel in said top cover leading from said orifice to the edge of said cover, inwardly extending integral lips on the upper outer portion of said channel to act as locking tabs against the dust mop handle to retain -it in said channel and coplanar with the enclosed dust mop head and rbody, `and a flat bottom affixed to the 'edges of the blister-type top cover to provide a sealed package for said dust mop head and body.

No references cited. 

